Program has helped strengthen China civil aviation for more than a decade

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) have extended a longstanding cooperative program to strengthen China's civil aviation system.

Since November 1993, the Joint Air Traffic Services (JATS) program has trained more than 4,000 aviation professionals in China.

"The Boeing-CAAC efforts have led to substantial safety, capacity and efficiency improvements for China's air traffic control system and made possible strong growth for China's aviation infrastructure and aircraft fleet," said Elizabeth Keck, Boeing Air Traffic Management vice president for Asia Pacific Business Development.

Deputy Director General of CAAC Air Traffic Management Bureau Lu Xiaoping and Keck signed the agreement here last month.

Also last month, 15 senior CAAC Air Traffic Management Bureau executives, headed by Deputy Director General Mao Shunping, attended a governmental executive air traffic control management training session at Boeing in Seattle under the JATS program.

Other Boeing-CAAC accomplishments under the JATS program include improved safety and capacity at primary airports and air traffic control maneuvering areas stemming from training and airspace design studies; training supporting the introduction of radar control; and such initiatives as a Future Air Navigation System (FANS)-1 trial contributing to establishment of the first communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) air traffic management route in China.

Boeing's Air Traffic Management unit concentrates on improving air traffic systems throughout the world. Its aims are to make flying even safer and more secure; significantly reduce delays, congestion and environmental impact; keep aviation affordable and accessible for all users; and enable seamless global aviation operations.